When Canada Outshined the UK in World War I

While Canada’s national stereotype may be an overly polite and homely attitude to an almost comical degree, this certainly was not the case in World War I. In fact, throughout the Western Front, Canadian soldiers were feared for their cunning and brutality toward the Central Powers.

This was displayed in one of Canada’s most mythologized and revered tales of national pride on the battlefield, sandwiched between the infamous trenches of the Somme and the Belgian border: Vimy Ridge.

The Gritty Details

The Battle of Vimy Ridge was fought from April 9-12, 1917. As Canada was still classified as a dominion of the United Kingdom, Canadian troops were usually under the command of a British general, and this battle was no exception. British general Julian Byng alongside Canadian generals Arthur Currie and Andrew McNaughton led the Canadian Corps of the First Army of the United Kingdom.

This trio of Allied forces arrived at Vimy Ridge to dislodge the German Sixth Army and provide relief to the French in the region. To effectively oust the entrenched German forces from the rugged terrain, Currie and McNaughton coordinated a risky creeping barrage artillery tactic. While the idea of firing in front of advancing friendly troops is not a new strategy in war, and was quite common for the Western Front, the Canadians would advance closer than any other army to the barrage of heavy fire falling from the sky. 

It was hazardous, but if it worked, the Canadians would catch the Germans before they could emerge from their hideouts to return fire.

All four Canadian divisions advanced side-by-side for the first time in the war in a single attack on April 9, with over 15,000 Canadian soldiers advancing under the cover of artillery fire. While the casualties on the Canadian side were quite heavy—10,000 over just three days—the Germans were no match for the Canuck onslaught. The final objective, a fortification outside the village of Givenchy-en-Gohelle, fell to the Canadians on April 12.

Legacy

The victory at Vimy Ridge is often seen as a great turning point in Canadian history. It fostered a sense of national pride and unity, which contributed to Canada’s growing desire to be fully autonomous within the British Empire. 

In 1936, the Canadian National Vimy Memorial was unveiled on the ridge, commemorating the sacrifices of those who fought and died there.

Today, Vimy Ridge remains a symbol of Canadian resilience and achievement. The battle’s legacy is a testament to the courage and determination of those who served in the Great War, shaping Canada’s identity as a nation.

Lake Dodson is an Assistant Editor for the National Interest. His interests are Korean-American relations, cybersecurity policy, and nuclear energy/weapons policy. He currently studies the Korean language and has completed courses on North-South Korean Relations and conducted various experiments on an AGN-201K Nuclear Reactor at the prestigious Kyung-hee University in Suwon, South Korea. His specific interests are effective nuclear energy policy, cyber-security, and the economy and politics of East Asia. He holds a BA from the University of Mississippi.  

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